{"id":2059883,"date":"2024-10-29T11:01:20","date_gmt":"2024-10-29T16:01:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?post_type=recipe&p=2059883"},"modified":"2024-10-29T11:01:20","modified_gmt":"2024-10-29T16:01:20","slug":"chicken-lentil-soup","status":"publish","type":"recipe","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/chicken-lentil-soup\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicken Lentil Soup"},"content":{"rendered":"
This chicken and lentil soup is the perfect dish when you’re craving something warm, nutritious and satisfying. The cozy lentil soup<\/a> recipe is packed with lean protein and fiber from lentils and vegetables. Earthy spices to make it flavorful. It\u2019s an easy one-pot meal<\/a> you can prepare in under an hour, making it an ideal weeknight dinner or meal-prep option.<\/p>\n In a large Dutch oven or stockpot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped carrots, onions and leeks to the pot and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and softened. Stir in the cubed chicken breast and cook until the chicken is browned on all sides and no longer pink in the center, for four to five minutes.<\/p>\n Once the chicken is browned, add the minced garlic, salt, cumin, thyme, pepper, smoked paprika and red pepper flakes to the pot. Cook for a minute, just until the garlic becomes fragrant. Be careful not to burn it. Pour in the chicken stock and bring the soup to a gentle simmer. Stir in the lentils, ensuring they are evenly distributed in the broth.<\/p>\n Cover the pot and let the soup simmer on low heat for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until the lentils have softened and absorbed some of the broth. If the soup thickens too much, you can add a bit more stock or water to reach your desired consistency.<\/p>\n Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Reheat on the stovetop or microwave until warmed through.<\/p>\n This soup freezes wonderfully. Let the soup cool completely, and then transfer it to a freezer-safe container or portion it into individual containers. Freeze for up to three months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.<\/p>\n You can make this soup a day ahead of time to allow the flavors to develop even more as it sits. Store it in the fridge and reheat when ready to serve.<\/p>\n To make it in a slow cooker, saute the vegetables and chicken in a pan and then transfer them to the slow cooker. Add the stock, lentils and seasonings and cook on low for six to eight hours, or on high for three to four hours.<\/p>\n Brown or green lentils work best for this soup because they hold their shape after cooking. Red lentils tend to break down and become mushy. They are less ideal for this recipe.<\/p>\n Chicken thighs are a great alternative to chicken breasts. They tend to be juicier and have a richer flavor, which can enhance the soup\u2019s overall taste. Adjust the cooking time as needed to ensure they\u2019re cooked through.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Cubed chicken breast keeps this chicken lentil soup recipe lean, but feel free to swap in chicken thighs for more flavor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8024,"featured_media":2099072,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"tags":[306879,307335,307648,307330,304328,304993,304998,304292,305487,304007,304338,303966,305003,304988,305004,303887,306848,306898,304297,304268,307307,307698,324623,304243,306699,304028,304005,304150,303883,307614],"categories-v2":[309854,310372,312905,310632,310369,312737,308988,308984,308481,308940,308945,308305,310796,308554,308992,308495,308949,308935,308951,308478,309603,312688,309876,308308,259483,310342,340242,310669,309177,309586,312672,308609,308549,309434,308476,312895,310591,340273],"coauthors":[343402],"recommended_recipes":[{"post_title":"Vegetable Lentil Soup","post_link":"\/recipes\/vegetable-lentil-soup\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/EXPS_TOHD24_32216_JuliaHartbeck.jpg"},{"post_title":"Beef Lentil Soup","post_link":"\/recipes\/beef-lentil-soup\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/EXPS_TOHD24_2553_NicolePerry_4.jpg"},{"post_title":"Cream of Lentil Soup","post_link":"\/recipes\/cream-of-lentil-soup\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Cream-of-Lentil-Soup_EXPS_SSBZ18_41308_C03_13_3b.jpg"},{"post_title":"Lentil-Tomato Soup","post_link":"\/recipes\/lentil-tomato-soup\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Lentil-Tomato-Soup_EXPS_TOHcom_38567_DR_01_05_5b.jpg"},{"post_title":"Chicken Vegetable Soup","post_link":"\/recipes\/potluck-chicken-vegetable-soup\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/EXPS_TOHD24_15848_SarahTramonte_5.jpg"},{"post_title":"Lentil & Chicken Sausage 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large Dutch oven or stockpot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped carrots, onions and leeks to the pot and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and softened. Stir in the cubed chicken breast and cook until the chicken is browned on all sides and no longer pink in the center, for four to five minutes.","image":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Chicken-Lentil-Soup_TOHD24_201849_KristinaVanni_1.jpg?fit=700,1024"},{"@type":"HowToStep","name":"Add the spices and stock","text":"Once the chicken is browned, add the minced garlic, salt, cumin, thyme, pepper, smoked paprika and red pepper flakes to the pot. Cook for a minute, just until the garlic becomes fragrant. Be careful not to burn it. Pour in the chicken stock and bring the soup to a gentle simmer. Stir in the lentils, ensuring they are evenly distributed in the broth.","image":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Chicken-Lentil-Soup_TOHD24_201849_KristinaVanni_2.jpg?fit=700,1024"},{"@type":"HowToStep","name":"Cook the lentils","text":"Cover the pot and let the soup simmer on low heat for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until the lentils have softened and absorbed some of the broth. If the soup thickens too much, you can add a bit more stock or water to reach your desired consistency.","image":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Chicken-Lentil-Soup_TOHD24_201849_KristinaVanni_3.jpg?fit=700,1024"}],"recipeYield":"8 servings (2 qt.)","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Perry Santanachote"}],"nutrition":{"@type":"NutritionInformation","calories":" 265 calories","fatContent":"5g fat (1g saturated fat)","cholesterolContent":"63mg cholesterol","sodiumContent":"843mg sodium","carbohydrateContent":"23g carbohydrate (4g sugars","fiberContent":"4g fiber)","proteinContent":"32g protein."},"aggregateRating":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"AggregateRating","ratingValue":4.5,"reviewCount":2,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5},"review":[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Review","datePublished":"2024-11-19","author":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Person","name":"JGa2595176"},"reviewBody":" Our whole family enjoyed this soup....hearty and flavorful. Son had two big bowls. Loved the spices and the fresh veggies (the leeks where a gamechanger!) We paired with some garlic bread and a green salad. Great weeknight meal on a cool evening. <\/p>","reviewRating":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Rating","ratingValue":5,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5}},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Review","datePublished":"2025-01-13","author":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Person","name":"Linda0146"},"reviewBody":" How many and size of servings thak you<\/p>","reviewRating":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Rating","ratingValue":4,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5}}]},"video":{"data":{"status":204},"message":"No shortcode found in recipe"},"rms_legacy_id":"201849","romance_copy_dek":"Cubed chicken breast keeps this chicken lentil soup recipe lean, but feel free to swap in chicken thighs for more flavor.","enhanced_recipe_title":"Chicken Lentil Soup","rms_legacy_data":{"RecipeCategories":null,"Ingredients":[{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"1 tablespoon olive oil","IngredientText":"1 tablespoon olive oil"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"2 cups chopped carrots","IngredientText":"2 cups chopped carrots"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"1 cup chopped onion","IngredientText":"1 cup chopped onion"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"1 cup chopped leek","IngredientText":"1 cup chopped leek"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed","IngredientText":"2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"1 tablespoon minced garlic","IngredientText":"1 tablespoon minced garlic"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"1-1\/2 teaspoons salt","IngredientText":"1-1\/2 teaspoons salt"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"1 teaspoon ground cumin","IngredientText":"1 teaspoon ground cumin"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"1 teaspoon dried thyme","IngredientText":"1 teaspoon dried thyme"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"3\/4 teaspoon pepper","IngredientText":"3\/4 teaspoon pepper"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"1\/2 teaspoon smoked paprika","IngredientText":"1\/2 teaspoon smoked paprika"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"1\/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes","IngredientText":"1\/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"5 cups chicken stock","IngredientText":"5 cups chicken stock"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"1 cup dried lentils, rinsed","IngredientText":"1 cup dried lentils, rinsed"}],"FeaturedImage":"https:\/\/tmbidigitalassetsazure.blob.core.windows.net\/rms3-prod\/attachments\/37\/1200x1200\/Chicken-Lentil-Soup_EXPS_TOHD24_201849_KristinaVanni_6.jpg","RecipeId":201849,"AttachmentSourceId":null,"AttachmentSource":"Kristina Vanni for Taste Recipes","PhotoCredit":"Chicken Lentil Soup Recipe photo by Kristina Vanni for Taste Recipes","VideoCode":null,"RecipeAttachmentFileName":"Chicken-Lentil-Soup_EXPS_TOHD24_201849_KristinaVanni_6.jpg","ContributorId":null,"Firstname":"Jodi","Lastname":"Taffel","City":"Altadena","StateDescription":"California","IsCommunityCook":false,"TimeCallout":"Prep: 15 min. 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And now our Sunday soup tradition is a melange of both, seamlessly blended into something totally new and totally us! \u2014Jodi Taffel, Altadena, California","FreezerDirections":"","FreezerDirectionsTitle":"","HTMLTitle":null,"RecipeVersionNumber":null,"WorkflowStatusId":9,"Directions":[{"Direction":"In a Dutch oven or stock pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add carrot, onion and leek, cook until tender, 7-10 minutes. Stir in chicken; cook until chicken is browned and no longer pink, 4-5 minutes. ","SequenceNo":1},{"Direction":" Add garlic, salt, cumin, thyme, pepper, smoked paprika and red pepper flakes; cook 1 minute longer. Add stock; bring to a simmer. Stir in lentils. 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Taste Recipes has the best carrot soup recipes from real cooks like you, featuring reviews, ratings, how-to videos and tips.","parent":312895,"count":183,"filter":"raw","term_order":"0","url":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/dishes-beverages\/soups\/vegetable-soups\/carrot-soups\/"}],"meta_data":{"enhanced_fields":{"enhanced_recipe_title":"Chicken Lentil Soup"}},"analytics":[],"yoast_head":"\nChicken Lentil Soup Ingredients<\/h2>\n
\n
Directions<\/h2>\n
Step 1: Saute the vegetables and chicken<\/h3>\n
KRISTINA VANNI FOR TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Step 2: Add the spices and stock<\/h3>\n
KRISTINA VANNI FOR TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Step 3: Cook the lentils<\/h3>\n
KRISTINA VANNI FOR TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
KRISTINA VANNI FOR TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Chicken Lentil Soup Variations<\/h2>\n
\n
How to Store Chicken Lentil Soup<\/h2>\n
Can you freeze chicken and lentil soup?<\/h3>\n
Can you make chicken lentil soup ahead of time?<\/h3>\n
Chicken and Lentil Soup Tips<\/h2>\n
KRISTINA VANNI FOR TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Can I make chicken lentil soup in a slow cooker?<\/h3>\n
What kind of lentils are best for soup?<\/h3>\n
Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?<\/h3>\n